[VovTortki]

I like the new forum. There is much potential.

Agreed nut, a lot of good features to like, but I can't help still thinking its somewhat of a double-edged sword.

I joined The Lab about six or seven years back, not long after getting my first 'puter. Found the layout very easy to understand and the layout makes it very simple to follow threads. You can see who is talking about what and choose to read or not read. Very simple to follow one or two threads whilst ignoring a couple of others. With this layout, I have to keep changing pages to follow what's happening.

The old Lab was so basic it took no figuring out at all, this place is going to require me reading a lot of stuff in order to be able to use certain features. There's also the fact I now have a profile that I need to manage, rather than just being "Woollybutt", like I was back there *points*.

Having said that, I'm happy to hang around here for a bit and see how it evolves. I guess it will be a few months of ironing out bugs, deciding which features will be made available/locked down, etc., etc. I guess then it will be up to the bean-counters at the ABC to decide if they'll let it be hosted and maintained on their own servers. If we don't all give it a fair go, I doubt they'll see the $$$ being justified.

One feature that could be very good is the ability to create Groups. Scribbly could have a photography group, bird-watchers group or whatever.

I'm going to really miss the old forums, but if the only way they can survive is in this new guise, I guess I'll have to learn to live with it or move on.